Stencil apparatus and the like



June 17, 1941. J, H, POLLARD sTENcIL APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed April4, 19:58 2 sheets-sheet 1 7 .Z w o Z y@ M M ,51? IIJ.. 4J ji, ufl fr@ MJune 17, 1941. J. H. POLLARD STENCIL APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed April4. 1938 2 Sheets--Shee'rl 2 ZOW Patented June 17, 1941 Unirse STATESPATENT cries 'STENCIL APPARATUS AND THE LIKE John H. Pollard, Dallas,Tex., assigner of onehalf to Arthur Baroniand one-half to RichardBurdick, both of Dallas, Tex.

Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,788

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful irnprovements in stencilapparatus and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus wherebydisplay characters, such as letters, figures, symbols, objects and thelike, may be readily and economically produced with plastic material orpaint upon pervious, foraminous or impervious surfaces, whether rough orsmooth.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus forproducing plastic or paint displays of the character above set forthhaving means whereby the support under the display medium may be removedwithout moving or disturbing either the stencil or the display medium,thus preventing smearing of or injury to the freshly deposited displayas well as making for simplicity and ease of operation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a table, or the like,having means for securing a .display medium and a stencil thereon and ahinged panel located below the stencil, arranged to be swung downwardlyout of alinement with the table, so as to permit placement orpositioning of the medium on which a display is to be applied, wherebydanger of smearing plastic material, which may have accumulated on thepanel during the previous operation, on the medium, while the same isbeing positioned, is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthe character described having means for supporting and latching ahinged panel beneath a stencil and a medium, said means being actuatedby one of the limbs of the operator to move said means away from thepanel, whereby the weight of the panel will cause saidpanel to swingdownwardly away from the underside of the medium to leave the hands ofthe operator free for other work.

A construction designed to carry out the n- Vention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will he more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance withthe invention, the stencil carrier and the hold-down frame being brokenaway,

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric View of the apparatus showing thestencil carrier in its upper Position,v

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view taken on the line 3 3o-f Figure 1, and showing the panel in its upper position,

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 and showing the panel in itslower position, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the apparatus. Y

In the drawings, the numeral I il designates a table or support, havingsuitable legs I Iand a at top I 2. A rectangular opening I3 is providedin the front portion of the table top I2 and, preferably, in the centralportion thereof. A complementary panel I 4, having a free fit within theopening I3 and lying flush with the upper surface of the top I2, issecured upon a pair of forwardly extending arms I5. A pair of blocks I6.are mounted beneath the table top behind the arms I5 and in horizontalalinement therewith, whereby the rearends of said arms may be fastenedto said blocks by hinges I'I. Thus, the panel I4 is secured to thetableby means of the arms I5, blocks I6 and hinges I1. Y

A horizontal bar I8 is mounted upon the back surface of the front legsII and is located near the upper ends thereof. A yoke-shaped prop I 9,having a pair of vertically-extending legs 2U, is secured to the bar I8by hinges 2I, whereby the prop will swing with relation to said bar. Thelower ends of the legs 20 are connected together' by a cross ,bar 22, sothat the said legs will swing togetheror simultaneously upon theirhinges 2l. The upper or free ends of the legs engage the underside ofthe arms I5 for supporting said arms and the panel lli in its horizontalor upper position. Obviously, when the legs 20 of the prop I9 are intheir supporting position they will be perpendicularrto the arms I5 andsupport them in their horizontal position, as is clearly shown inFigures 2, 3 and 5. It is noted that the legs 25 are pivoted nearertheir upper ends, whereby the combined weight of the portions of thelegs below the hinges and the cross bar 22, overbalances that portion ofthe legs above the hinges and constantly urges the lower portions andbar 22 downwardly to their vertical position.

The outer end of one of the transverse arms I5 is extended so as toproject outwardly from the front edge of the table I0 to form a lever orhandle I5 for lifting the panel Ill to itshorizontal position. The crossbar is preferablyl spaced from the oor, or other support, so as to bedisposed opposite the knee of the operator. whereby an inward pressureagainst the bar with the knee Will swing the arms 20 inwardly, as

shown in Figure 4, to lower the panel I4. The panel I4 may be quicklyand easily swung upwardly by lifting the same by its handle I5', andsuch raising of the panel will permit the prop I9 to automatically swingto its vertical position with its legs engaging beneath the arms I5 tosupport and latch the panel I4 in its horizontal position flush with thetop of the table. Thus, it is seen that the panel may be quickly andeasily lowered or raised by the operator, as desired.

A holddown frame 23 and stencil carrier 24 are hinged at their rear endsto a cross head 25 secured to the underside of the table I0 at its rearportion, and are adapted to swing vertically over the table top I2(Figure 2). The frame 23 is provided therein with longitudinal wires 26,and a transverse wire 26 is secured therein near its forward end, saidwire extending across the wires 26. A supporting cross bar 21 isfastened to the underside of the frame 23 near its rear end and suitablespring-pressed latches 28, having coil springs 28', are hinged to saidbar to hold said frame in an elevated position.

The stencil carrier 24 includes a yoke 29 which has handles 29' on itsforward end, provided for convenience in raising and lowering the same.The yoke is adapted to fit into the frame 23 and has its sides connectedabout midway thereof by a header 30, which, together with the sides andfront of the yoke, comprises the stencil support. A transverse hangerbar 3| is secured to the top arms of the yoke near their rear ends andthe ends of said bar overhang or extend beyond the sides of the yokesufficiently far to provide space between said ends and the yoke armsfor the sides of the frame 23. Suitable latches 32 depend from the outerends of the hanger bar 3| and are hinged thereto to hold said carrier inan elevated position. Release rods 33 and 34 are secured to the latches28 and 32 provided on the frame 23 and carrier 24 to unlatch and lowerthe same over the table.

In operation, the holddown frame cil carrier are swung to their raisedpositions and held so by the latches. The panel I4 is lifted to itshorizontal position by the handle I5' and held there by the prop I9.Then the medium upon which the display is to be produced, is placed uponthe table top I2 with the panel I4 under that portion of the mediumwhere the display is to be located. Any pervious, foraminous orimpervious medium may be employed.

The medium having been placed -in position, the release rod 33 is swungby the operator to release the latches 28 and allow the frame 23 to beswung down over the medium. The wires 26 and 26 within the frame holdthe medium securely in place. The release rod 34 is then operated torelease the latches 32 and permit the stencil carrier 24 to swing downinto the frame 23, thereby positioning the stencil above the medium. Aquantity of compound or composition. of which the display is to beformed, is

23 and stendeposited in the stencil frame 35 and the operator,

by means of a squegee or flat blade, spreads the compound so that itpasses through the openings in the stencil. Where the medium is of aforami nous` or pervious nature, portions of the compound will passtherethrough and engage the panel I4, thus forming the display on theunderside, as well as upon the upper side of the medium.

After the display has been formed on the medium, the stencil carrier 24is swung upwardly and latched in its raised position, whereby thestencil is removed from the medium. The frame 23 is then swung upwardlyand latched in an elevated position by its latches 28, after which themedium is removed from the table and panel. It is noted that during theraising of the carrier, the wires 25 and 26 in the frame 23 hold themedium in place upon the table top I2, thereby preventing smearing ofthe display.

During the applying operation, and particularly where a foraminousmedium is used, the plastic compound or paint employed for forming thedisplay, will pass through the medium and accumulate on the panel. Ifthe panel remains flush with the table top, it is manifest that it wouldbe difficult to position the next medium on the table without smearingsome of this accumulated plastic compound on the second medium.Therefore, after the first medium is removed, as has been explained, theprop I9 is swung rearwardly upon its hinges 2| by the operator of theapparatus, who applies an inward pressure against the bar 22 by placinghis knee or foot against said bar to shove or push it rearwardly,thereby removing the legs 20 from their engagement with the transversearms I5. Manifestly, since the panel I4 and arms I5 are no longersupported, they will swing downwardly upon their hinges I1, and thepanel will be swung downwardly out of alinement with the table top. Thenext medium may then be readily placed on the table without danger ofsmearing.

After the next medium is in place, the panel I4 is again lifted to itshorizontal position whereby the prop I9 automatically swings forward tosupport said panel, so that the above set forth operation may berepeated. Although the panel makes for easy placement of the nextsucceeding medium and is ordinarily swung downwardly after the precedingmedium is removed, it is pointed out that said panel could be swungdownwardly away from the medium before the carrier and frame are swungupwardly, prior to removal of the medium from the table. By swinging thepanel away from the medium, removal of the medium is facilitated anddanger of smearing the newly formed display, during removal of themedium, is obviated.

'I'he description which has been given recites more or less detail of aparticular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new anduseful; however, I desire it understood that the invention is notlimited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifestthat changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Whatl I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, the support having an opening therein which is of less areathan and which underlies the medium, and a panel closing said openingand arranged to be removed therefrom to facilitate positioning of themedium on the support.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, the support having an opening therein which is of less areathan and which underlies the medium, a panel hinged to the support andarranged to close said opening, and means engaging the outer portion ofthe underside of the support for releasably holding said panel in aposition closing said opening.

3. In an apparatus of the character described a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, the support having an opening therein which is of less areathan and which underlies the medium, a panel hinged to the support andarranged to close said opening, and a pivotal brace member below thepanel and adapted to engage said panel to hold the same in a positionclosing said opening, the member being located at the forwardlongitudinal edge of the support so as to be operable by the limb of theoperator standing by said support to permit said panel to swingdownwardly out of the opening.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, the support having an opening therein which is of less areathan and which underlies the medium, a panel hinged to the support andarranged to close said opening a brace for said panel free from positiveconnection with the panel and being pivoted off-center intermediate itsends so as to move automatically to its latching position when the panelis swung upwardly, and means secured to the brace for disengaging thesame from the panel, whereby said panel may swing downwardly.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, and a panel hinged to the support and underlying thatportion of the medium to which the coloring is applied andarranged toswing downwardly to facilitate positioning of a medium on the support.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, means forsecuring a medium upon said support as well as a stencil upon themedium, whereby coloring material may be applied to said medium throughthe stencil, a panel hinged to the support and underlying that portionof the medium to which the coloring is applied and arranged to swingdownwardly to facilitate positioning of a medium on the support, and apivoted brace member arranged to engage the outer portion of theunderside of the panel to hold the same in a raised position.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, aat table supported on said structure for receiving a medium on whichdisplay characters are to be formed, said table having an openingtherein which underlies the medium, a hinged panel for closing saidopening, and a brace pivoted intermediate its ends to the supportingstructure adapted to engage the underside of the panel to hold the panelin its raised position closing the opening, the pivot being nearer theupper end of the brace so that the brace automatically moves to itsbracing position when the panel is raised.

8'. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure,a flat table supported on said structure for receiving a medium on whichdisplay characters are to be formed, said table having an openingtherein which underlies the medium, hinged panel for closing saidopening, a brace pivoted intermediate its ends to the supportingstructure below the table and arranged to swing to a vertical positionwhereby one end engages the underside of the panel to hold the same in aposition closing the opening, the pivot point of the brace being nearerthat end engaging the panel whereby the tendency of said brace is toswing to a vertical position, and means for limiting the swing of thebrace to halt it in a vertical position.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure, aflat table supported on said structure for receiving a medium on whichdisplay characters are to be formed, said table having an openingtherein which underlies the medium and which lis of a smaller area thanthe medium supported on the table, a hinged panel for closing saidopening, a brace pivoted intermediate its ends to the supportingstructure below the table and arranged to swing to a vertical positionwhereby one end engages the underside of the panel to hold the same in aposition closing the opening, the pivot point of the brace being nearerthat end engaging the panel whereby the tendency of said brace is toswing to a Vertical position, and means for limiting the swing of thebrace to halt it in a vertical position.

J QHN H. POLLARD.

